Page 16 of Taboo

The house is quiet and the only sign of either of them is the wet footprints tracked through the house that lead me directly to the front door. I open it and listen to the two of them argue and regret my asshole behavior instantly. I step onto the porch and stay out of view of them both.

“I’d rather stay at my own house and wait on that fucking rapist next door to try to come get me than deal with the weight of Noah’s anger toward me. I don’t get him and I honestly can’t deal with this tonight. Levi, please just let me go. I’ll be fine. I’ve been good my whole life without you guys, so I’m sure I can figure something out with this.”

“You’re out of your damn mind if you think I’m going to let you go back to your house with that insane person living next door. He’s already tried to get to you and what he did tonight was just his way of getting to you again.”

“Levi. He hates me with a passion. I shouldn’t be here at his house and we definitely should not have just fucked like that in his pool. You make me crazy when you’re around and it’s just not fair for you to flaunt me around like you do. Noah and I are complicated and even though he will never feel the same way I do; I love that man. I don’t want to see him hate me like this. If he has to hate me, it’s easier for me not to have to face it. I need to go.” I watch her try to walk away as she slides her shirt over her head, then she pulls her towel off and throws it at Levi. “Put this on and quit walking around with your dick hanging out.”

He reaches out to stop her from leaving and they start talking so quietly, I can’t hear them. I watch Levi take her in his arms and pull her close to him. She wraps her arms around him and leans into him as if he’s actually consoling her. That should be me holding her like that, but instead I’ve made these fucking rules that I’m beginning to hate myself for.

When they begin kissing again, I go inside. I can’t watch the two of them go at it again, because I honestly don’t think I can handle what it does to me. I know deep down I want it to be me that’s fucking her. I want to feel her tits against my chest and watch her face as she comes undone, but instead, I’m the creep who was just watching in the background. I guess that’s one that I owed her. I hope to never cash in on the other she was caught eavesdropping on.

I go to my room and flip on the stereo. Flopping down on the bed, I notice I have a few missed calls. One of them is from Mandy, so I hit that notification and wait to hear her voice, knowing not even hers will get Kali’s out of my head.

“Please tell me everything is better. Did he find a place today?”

“No, he got tied up with some other things, but I’m sure he plans to take care of it soon.” I choose not to tell her about the arrest or the fact that Kali is staying here. It’s all too complicated and she’ll just give me a lecture about shit I already know. “How is everything at your place? Is this call to tell me you’re coming to see me? I can kick a bitch out of my bed if you want to keep me warm.” If I tease her, she won’t think anything is wrong with me because that’s how I’ve always talked to her.

“No, I’m not going to keep you warm. Nice try, though. How about you change those sheets between your whores once in a while.”

“I will for you.” She has no idea how much different my life is now. When she was around, I was going through the party season of my life. I guess the last few times we’ve talked don’t help my case in that, not that I’m trying to make one.

“I’ll let you know. I was just checking to make sure you didn’t kill my brother. He hasn’t answered my calls or texts all day.”

“He’s been real busy helping a friend out.” My insides twinge as I think about just how much he has been helping.

“All right. Tell him to call his sister tomorrow or I will make the trip to kick both of your asses.” She hangs up before I have the chance to take the bait she just fed me. She knows I’m a sucker for that shit.

I lie back and force myself to doze off. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough as far as I’m concerned.

My phone vibrates, waking me up. It’s just an old hookup wanting a bootie call and I couldn’t be any more uninterested. I glance at the time to find it’s just after three o’clock in the morning. The stereo has covered any evidence that anyone else was in the house, so I’m not sure if they’re here or if they ended up leaving. I guess I’ll have to be fine with either option.

I toss and turn a few times before I give in and slide off the bed. Opening the door to my room, I step out and listen for any proof that either of them are still here. Levi’s door is closed, so I can only assume they stayed.

Working my way downstairs to the kitchen, I hear someone moving around. It only takes one glance over the railing to see Kali mopping the floor in front of the door.

“Why are you mopping?” She jumps as I speak, but quickly returns her focus to cleaning the floor.

“Because I walked through the house and left footprints. I figured I should get them out before I leave.” I take the last few stairs slowly as I watch her long brown hair sway as she moves. Her yoga pants and black tank top tease me when she takes the bucket and walks back to the kitchen, leaving me standing with only my fantasy of touching her. I follow her, intrigue forcing me to do what I wouldn’t normally do.

“Look, I’m sorry if I woke you. I just wanted to clean up the mess I made. I promise I’ll leave today so you can stop being angry.” She closes the pantry door and attempts to walk by me. I put my palm on the doorframe, preventing her from leaving without talking to me longer.

“What makes you think I’m angry?”

“Because you feel heavy. I know you, Noah. And right now, you’re not in a good place and I can only assume that it’s me that’s making you this way.” She takes a step back, pulling her hair into a mess on top of her head with an elastic band from her wrist. I can’t seem to pull my eyes away from her as she moves around the kitchen.

“I don’t like the way Levi is with you.” I admit what’s bothering me and she stops suddenly, glaring at me as she takes in what I just said.

“You don’t like him saving me from an asshole today. Him carrying me from a burning vehicle and softening my fall when it explodes. Or is it that you don’t like that he went to jail fighting for me to be safe in my own house. Oh, I bet it’s that you don’t like that he offered to stay with me to keep me protected and even though I declined, he insisted I come here to stay so he can make sure that maniac doesn’t get me. He’s really a horrible person, so I can see your problem with him.” She gets louder the longer she talks and I only hear a few sentences before I tune her out and just watch her lips move.

“When did you become this sexy?” That shuts her up and I instantly regret letting that come out of my mouth. I guess now that I’ve started this, I may as well continue and see what happens. I’m tired of fighting this attraction to her.

“Why are you doing this?” I move closer until I’ve pinned her against the kitchen cabinet. My body gravitates toward hers and it isn’t until we’re pressed together that I respond.

“Because I’ve waited too long to recognize what we have between us.” She lowers her head, inhaling deeply against my chest. I can feel her heart beat faster the longer we stand together. Her internal struggle becomes too much for her when she pushes me away.

“Please don’t. I can’t take your bipolar reactions. It’s not fair that you’re doing this to me.” I watch her walk up the stairs and into Levi’s room before I adjust the bulging dick in my pants.

Chapter Nine

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